From 11th -14th November, Lisbon will be hosting another edition of Web Summit. It is a great opportunity to catch up with the latest IT trends... and an excellent opportunity to get to know Lisbon.

Not to be missed in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city that really makes you want to explore and discover it. Safe and friendly, it is easy to visit and has lots to see and do. It is the perfect place to spend a few days. It is both ancient and modern and it is invariably surprising.

Start with the city centre area known as the Baixa. This is the heart of the city, where you will find the monumental square Praça do Comércio that opens on to the River Tagus. For an aerial view, your best bet is to go up to the historic neighbourhoods of Alfama and St. George's Castle. Other good options are the viewpoints on the city's other hills, such as São Pedro de Alcântara, Graça or Santa Catarina.

For a city tour, there's nothing like a tram ride, but there are other options too: Segway, "tuk-tuk", hop-on-hop-off buses or even a boat, if you want to see Lisbon from the river. Take a look at the urban art painted on the walls of buildings or at street details, and discover a veritable open-air art gallery.



Once you've seen the historic centre, the next thing on your must-see list is Belém, the neighbourhood of the Portuguese Discoveries and the 16th-century seafarers. This is where you will find the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery, both of which are World Heritage sites. And then there is the original Coach Museum and the contemporary Berardo Museum in the Belém Cultural Centre. Be sure to sample one of the famous Portuguese custard tarts, called "pastéis de nata" and, with it being November, it will be hard to resist the hot roast chestnuts on sale in the street.

Other museums worth mentioning in Lisbon are the National Museum of Ancient Art, the National Tile Museum and the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, where various art treasures from Portugal and around the world are kept.

Save the Bairro Alto and the Chiado for the end of the day. In the evening, a host of bars and restaurants open their doors and the nightlife starts to buzz. The same is true of Cais do Sodré, closer to the river. For a dinner with a difference, try a fado house and listen to a performance of the Portuguese song that has been declared World Heritage.

Web Summit will be held in the Parque das Nações. Boasting a prime riverside location, this neighbourhood is, in itself, a success story, since it was created by revitalising an industrial zone. The Oceanarium is definitely worth visiting with its exhibits representing the oceans of our planet. And alongside the river, you can admire examples of contemporary architecture and enjoy the open-air leisure areas.

Nearby
A visit to Lisbon can also include a trip to the beach, whether on the Costa da Caparica, the Estoril and Cascais Coast or, a little farther north, the fishing town of Ericeira. Portugal averages 300 sunny days a year and generally has an agreeable climate. Even on rainy days, you can still sometimes spot a bit of blue sky. In November, the weather is quite pleasant and you are likely to get the chance to enjoy some walks by the shore.



The climate and a coast with great waves have combined to make Portugal a favourite spot for surfing. Surfers come here from all over the world and further proof lies in the various amateur and professional competitions held in early October. So why not take the opportunity for some surfing lessons?

With so much to see and do in Lisbon, why wait?